If you had the big one, you are parked for a minimum of 2 months. No exceptions.

When you go for your physical after that 2-month benchwarmer period, here is exactly what the Certified Medical Examiner (CME) is going to demand:

• The Clearance Letter: You need a signed note from your cardiologist. It can’t just say “He’s good.” It needs to say you are asymptomatic (no chest pain), you’re tolerating your meds (no dizziness or side effects that would make you crash), and you are safe to drive a Commercial Motor Vehicle.
• The Ejection Fraction (LVEF): This is the horsepower of your heart pump. The magic number is 40%. If your LVEF is below 40%, you are disqualified, until this number is above 40%.
• The Stress Test (ETT): You need to pass an Exercise Tolerance Test.
  • Timing: This has to be done 4 to 6 weeks after the heart attack.
  • The Score: You gotta hit a workload of at least 6 METS (that’s the energy cost of the exercise). You also need to get your heart rate up to 85% of your max (unless you’re on beta-blockers, then the doc adjusts the math).
  • No Bad Signs: No chest pain and no scary squiggles on the EKG (ST depressions).
• The Recert: If you pass all that, you get a 1-year card. You’ll be doing this dance annually now, and re-taking that stress test every 2 years, if your cardiologist requires it.